Statement of Faith
Our Beliefs!
In Essential Beliefs - Unity
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4-6
In Non-Essential Beliefs - Liberty
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things.... Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.... So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.... Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22
In All Our Beliefs - Charity
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2
Our Essential Beliefs
GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. All things were made by Him. There is one God eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal, co-eternal and are one God. Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Deut 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
THE FATHER
God the Father is infinite, personal, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love; He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; He hears and answers prayer; He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. He is a loving Father to His children. Romans 11:33; Col 1:17; Proverbs 2:16, 3:19; Job 12:13; John 3:16; 1 John 4:16
THE SON
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus though fully God, through the incarnation became fully human and lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Phil. 2:5-11 Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every follower of Christ from the moment of salvation. He provides the follower daily with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right and boldness to share his or her faith. He gives every believer different spiritual gifts when they are saved. As followers of Christ, we seek to live under His control daily. He is our comforter and teacher. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25; 2 Peter 1:3
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s written Word to us. Human individuals, under the supernatural leading of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspired it, it is the truth without any mixture of error. There is no other book with equal authority. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character, and to reign with him. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are broken by sin. Sin is what separates people from God and brings emptiness and destruction in life, resulting in eternal death. We have inherited our sin from Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross as God’s offer of forgiveness, can we have an assurance of salvation and be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith, and expresses itself in righteous living under God's reign. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5 Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; 1John 5:11-13
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence for reward or punishment. John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9
THE CHURCH
The universal church is a living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head, and all regenerated persons are members. There are many different denominations within the universal church who love Jesus Christ. Col 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Eph. 2:19-22, 4:11-13